Ravens bar of the week: Plug Ugly's Publick House

Lloyd Fox, Baltimore Sun

Lloyd Fox, Baltimore Sun

Wesley Case, The Baltimore Sun

Watching a Ravens game in Canton's O'Donnell Square typically means one thing: showing up early to claim a spot with a clear view of a TV. Most people head to Looney's Pub and Claddagh's Pub first, but in between them is a strong option that's often overlooked on gameday: Plug Ugly's Publick House.

I wasn't in love with the bar in my initial review from August 2012. But since then, Plug Ugly's — with its upstairs patio and above-average food and drink offerings — has emerged as a consistently viable alternative to the Square's more crowded bars.

Where other bars will be predictably cramped this Sunday for the Ravens game in Buffalo, Plug Ugly's should be a considerably more comfortable scene.

Drinks: Plug Ugly's understands there's no reason to get unnecessarily fancy on the day of the game. In terms of drafts, Miller Lite pints are $2 and Blue Moon pints are $3. If you're coming with a group, the Miller Lite bucket deal might make the most sense. It's $13 for five bottles. Finally, mixed rail drinks are $5.

Food: Plug Ugly's secret weapon is its cuisine. "We're not just a bar-food place," partner Bryan Healy said recently. He's right: The bar's take on elevated "pub grub" is often better than not, and at the very least, it adds more flair to its dishes than Plug's neighbors. On Sunday, brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., so Ravens fans can head in early for an omelet filled with ham and aged cheddar ($9) or shrimp and grits ($10). Bottomless mimosas and make-it-yourself Bloody Marys are reasonably priced at $12.

Atmosphere: As a sports bar, Plug Ugly's operates under the radar, likely because of the nearby competition. But there's an 80-inch projection screen on the patio — easily the pub's best hangout area — and 10 TVs around the bar, so seeing the game should not be a problem. And most important, the sound for the Ravens game plays throughout the bar.

Parking: There is free street parking all around O'Donnell Square, but like all Canton parking, it can fill up quickly right before Ravens games.